ITW Board Approves 18 Percent Dividend Increase; Dividend Boosted to $1.32 Per Share on an Annual Basis

GLENVIEW, Ill., Aug. 5, 2005 -- The board of directors of Illinois Tool Works Inc. today declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 33 cents per share or $1.32 per share on an annual basis. This quarterly increase of 5 cents per share -- 20 cents per share annually -- represents an 18 percent increase over the current dividend rate. The increased dividend will be paid on Monday, October 17, 2005 to stockholders of record on Friday, September 30, 2005.

ITW is an $11.7 billion in revenues diversified manufacturer of highly engineered components and industrial systems and consumables. The Company consists of approximately 650 decentralized operations in 45 countries and employs some 49,000 people.